Chapter 18 (2/2)

“Of course.”

“Then how did he get picked to be the monitor?”

“Wow, awesome!” Zhang Wei Rui was surprised at his unexpected side. “Just two points difference from Tsinghua’s acceptance mark. What an idol!”

“Why? You called dibs?”

“Alas.” Zhang Wei Rui sighed deeply. “It’s true that people say all good men are taken.”

“What naive? I never said I fell for him at first sight.” Zhang Wei Rui stuck out her tongue. Smiling, she added, “It’s good just to have a brother like him. We’re both surnamed Zhang anyway.”

“Ha, it’s all the same in English anyway.” Zhang Wei Run grinned, eyes narrowed.

The campus was organising an autumn/winter sports meet soon and required at least two women partic.i.p.ating from each department. He Luo signed up for it and, during Children’s Day on the weekend, went running at the venue. When she returned to the campus, someone called her name while knocking on his lunchbox. “Why are you wearing like an athlete?” It was Shen Lie.

“Well, most girls have no sense of direction.” Shen Lie grinned.

“Isn’t it just a meal? Let’s go.” Shen Lie waved. “Rice at the canteen, eat whatever you like and as much as you like as my apologies.”

He Luo wasn’t sure to laugh or cry. So far, she had received drawings of a bucktoothed mouse, Indian feathers, Doraemon… every flick of the pen was vivid and refined. Once, Zhou Xing Yan intercepted the letter and became overjoyed. She circled He Luo and then hugged her neck, asking, “Shall we kiss?” She laughed. “Did you not kiss enough during the break or did you deny him? No wonder our poor boy has to ask for a kiss across a thousand kilometres.”

She will just kiss a pig then, so what? She still couldn’t resist placing her lips on the seal. The familiar scent of the craft paper drifted into her nose, carrying with it a hint of the cold in the north.

However, her expression became strained after reading the letter. She tied the curtains and climbed down her bunk bed. She sat at the table and, for a long moment, daydreamed.

Tian Xin was surprised to see He Luo just as she was about to take a shower. “What’s wrong? Did anything happen?”

“Yeah, right. Didn’t we just go see meteor shower together two days ago?” Tian Xin pursed her lips. “I’m not your Zhang Yuan. Would you miss me that much?”

“Am I too narrow-minded?” He Luo placed the milk she bought on her way here on the heater and sits down. She began peeling the chestnuts. Tian Xin was concentrating on putting her mask and murmured for her to continue.

“En, en, en…” Tian Xin made a string of strange noises.

He Luo’s mouth was dry after speaking so many words in one go. She took one of Tian Xin’s oranges and began peeling it. No matter how Tian Xin urged for her to continue, she persistently ate the orange without intention to elaborate. An impatient Tian Xin ran to the bathroom to wash off the mask. When she returned, there were still traces of green mud on her face. “Are you crazy? You told him to develop a good relations.h.i.+p with the girls in his cla.s.s and this is how good they’ve become! It’d be just nice to have no girls pestering him. Ha, aren’t you regretting now?”

“That’s not surprising. Even though he has a girlfriend but since they can’t see it, they’ll just pretend he doesn’t have one,” Tian Xin replied. “In all fairness, even though he’s sometimes arrogant and too talkative, he’s a good cla.s.smate. His looks are also good. After you transferred, you two began to have an ambiguous relations.h.i.+p so the other girls naturally gave up. But did you forget about Zheng Qing Yin…”

“Zhang Yuan rejected to be her boyfriend but he never said anything about rejecting to be her friend,” Tian Xin said. “These innocent girls are especially dangerous because they’re fearless. I suggest you nip any potential trouble in the bud.”

“You say you believe in him, but you still came all the way here to talk to me.” Tian Xin smiled. “You’re thinking that the person who should be by his side everyday is you. Now that position has been taken by someone else. Even if it’s not Zhang Yuan’s initiative and it’s someone else pestering him, your heart must be uneasy…”

Tian Xin nodded. “You look so weak and pitiful, so unlike the He Luo I know.”

“Strong, independent, and a.s.sertive,” Tian Xin answered. “When you said you want to be a diplomat, I thought you might as well be the second Wu Yi.”

“Be a good wife and wise mother?” Tian Xin giggled. “Zhang Yuan, oh Zhang Yuan, he has killed the country’s second Wu Yi.”

“That’s right.” Tian Xin sighed. “This is how a girl in love should be like. I like you like this.”

“I can’t compete with Zhang Yuan.” Tian Xin shook her head. “Later on, get him to apply to your university’s graduate school. Then you can be together everyday. Just look at the students coming from all corners of the country. As long as he prepares well for the test, he’ll have no problem.”

“Hey, you don’t have to worry about that now.” Tian Xin held onto her. With a grin, she said, “Do me a favour.” She takes out a piece of paper. “Help me rewrite something.”

“Ay, keep it a secret!” Tian Xin hid the paper behind her. “Promise not to laugh.”

“Tadah! It’s my, Tian Xin’s, first time in 18 years…” Still unsatisfied with the privacy of the room, Tian Xin ran to lock the door,” ...my love letter.”

“He knows my handwriting. I’m too embarra.s.sed. You’re my closest friend and most trusted person.”

“Are you writing or not?”

“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?” Tian Xin cried.

[ill.u.s.tration by Jiwoon Pak]

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